The Ebola virus and outbreak in Africa has had everyone in this country losing sleep for a while now, and the more recent cases of controlled contractions of the virus in the US have seemed to have sent the country into an emotional tailspin. But is all of this panic and anxiety warranted? It’s true, Ebola is deadly, but is the media’s hold on the country’s psyche throughout their sensationalist 24-hour coverage necessary or responsible? Shepard Smith says no.

In a surprising reversal from the media, yesterday on Fox News Shepard Smith took a moment to address the nation and tell everyone to calm down. In a succinct four-minute monologue Shepard addressed the facts at hand regarding Ebola, and the reality of what we can expect to happen, or not happen.

Unless a medical professional has contacted you personally and told you of some sort of possible exposure, fear not… Do not listen to the hysterical voices on the radio and the television or read the fear-provoking words online. The people who say and write hysterical things are being very irresponsible…

Shepard’s closing point of advice was to redirect unnecessary anxiety about the virus towards something more productive, like getting a flu shot. “My best advice for you and your family at this moment–get a flu shot… flu, along with resulting pneumonia killed 52,000 Americans last year alone.”

There is no Ebola spreading in America. Should that change, our reporting will change, but there is nothing to indicate that it will.

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